Review: 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS
The Corvette marks its 50th year in 2003, and Chevrolet's rather
subdued response is somehow appropriate. Sure, Chevy could have
come up with an ultra-expensive and limited-production special
edition, perhaps something along the lines of a street-legal version
of the C5R endurance racers. But Chevy didn't. Instead, the 50th
Anniversary Edition is a trim package available on coupes and
convertibles. If this seems less than special, considering the
occasion, you're missing the point.
A Corvette is not, and never has been, an exclusive vehicle for
the extremely wealthy. While Corvettes have never exactly been
inexpensive, they have never been as expensive and exclusive as
imports with similar performance. With its large V8 engine and
stylish fiberglass bodywork a Corvette is a uniquely American
vehicle, much like a certain variety of V-Twin cruiser motorcycle.
And like the bike owners, Corvette owners tend toward extreme
enthusiasm. Just for them, Chevrolet is planning a gathering of the
faithful for a serious anniversary celebration in Nashville, TN - the
nearest big city to the Bowling Green, KY factory - this June. It
should be a good party, for a very good reason.
I've just finished a week with a new Corvette coupe decked out
in 50th Anniversary trim. Fans can endlessly argue about which
Corvette is the best-looking (I'll take the original 1953 model and
the 1963 Sting Ray split-window coupe, thank you) but the current
one is by far the best for comfort, handling, and power. In the form
of my test car, with the standard four-speed automatic transmission,
it's not as hard-edged as a manual car or the Z06, but it's hardly a
soft luxury impostor. Consider it a four-wheeled version of the
classic American cruiser motorcycle.
Late-breaking news: A special edition 2004 Z06 Corvette has
just been announced, commemorating the car's success in
endurance racing at Le Mans. Continuing Corvette's place as
Chevy's technology leader, look for carbon fiber front bodywork,
special suspension tuning, and a color scheme like that of this year's
Le Mans cars.
APPEARANCE: A Corvette looks only like a Corvette, and the
current version is a low, rounded wedge in convertible, fastback
coupe, or notchback Z06 body style. It fittingly incorporates many
different historical Corvette styling features. Its shape is an
evolutionary development of its immediate predecessor, the `84 to
`96 `Vette, which itself evolved from the `68 to `83 models. Check
the fender lines. The scooped-out ``coves'' on the side go back to
the 1956-62 body style. The rear of the coupe's greenhouse echoes
the shape of the `63 to `67 coupes (with better visibility and minus
the `63's split window). The 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette is
distinguished by unique metallic maroon ``50th Anniversary Red''
exterior paint color, ``champagne'' colored wheels, and
commemorative badging on the front fenders and trunk lid.
COMFORT: A Corvette is a Corvette, meaning that it's a low-slung
sports car designed for serious driving. In some older models,
accessibility was, if not quite down to Italian exotic levels of
contortion, still somewhat gymnastic. It's much better in the current
version, as the old high door sills are gone. The 50th Anniversary
package builds on the standard Corvette interior, with the
commemorative logo embroidered into the headrests and floor mats
and a unique ``shale'' gray color scheme. The instrument panel is the
latest interpretation of the classic Corvette ``twin cowl'' design
pioneered back in 1953. There is room for two, with an emphasis
on driving. Luggage space is adequate for traveling light, and a new
cargo cover in the coupe adds some luggage security.
SAFETY: Corvette crash avoidance features include quick
acceleration, top-notch handling and maneuverability, and 4-wheel
antilock vented disc brakes. A safety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush zones, three-point safety belts,
and next-generation airbags protect occupants in case the crash is
not avoided.
ROADABILITY: As it has been true for the past half-century, the
current Corvette has body-on-frame construction, with plastic
composite bodywork. The current frame is the most rigid yet, and,
with a fully-independent aluminum-intensive double wishbone
suspension architecture with transverse composite leaf springs, is
fully capable of dealing with Corvette levels of horsepower and
cornering force. The ``magnetic selective ride control'' suspension
that is part of the 50th Anniversary package is also available on
other non-Z06 2003 Corvettes. It replaces the standard shocks with
special units that use fluid that changes viscosity according to the
strength of a computer-controlled electromagnetic field. This allows
for quick real-time control of damping rates for flatter cornering
and a smoother ride. There are two driver-controllable settings.
Soft adds comfort at low speeds around town and on poorly-
surfaced roads, but it allows too much body roll at highway speeds.
The firm setting gives the standard Corvette firm ride, with good
damping and little body roll. Anyone expecting a soft luxury-car
ride in a Corvette has been seriously misinformed. Cornering is
further enhanced by huge contact patches of the staggered-size run-
flat Goodyear Eagle GS tires, P245/45 ZR17 front and P275/40
ZR18 rear.
PERFORMANCE: With 350 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 360 lb-ft
of torque at 4000 rpm (375 @ 4400 for the 5-speed manual
version), the standard Corvette LS1 V8 is underpowered only in
comparison to the 405-hp LS6 in the Z06. The standard four-speed
automatic mellows the Corvette somewhat, but again it's mellow
only relative to the six-speed manual LS1 or Z06. Each pony has
only a little over nine lbs. of Corvette to move, and so it moves
very quickly. Acceleration or exhilaration? With only light
application of the throttle, the `Vette is a pussycat, purring
smoothly through traffic. Press a little harder and the claws come
out, as it rockets forwards to classic V8 sounds. With the massive
amount of torque available, the automatic has little effect on raw
acceleration. In spirited driving, holding the transmission in either
second or third works fine even on tight roads.
CONCLUSIONS: Fifty years old and going strong, there is nothing
like a Corvette.
SPECIFICATIONS
2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition
Base Price $ 43,335
Price As Tested $ 49,490
Engine Type aluminum alloy pushrod overhead
valve V8
Engine Size 5.7 liters / 346 cu. in.
Horsepower 350 @ 5600 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 360 @ 4000 rpm
Transmission 4-speed electronically-controlled
automatic
Wheelbase / Length 104.5 in. / 179.7 in.
Curb Weight 3246 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 9.3
Fuel Capacity 18.0 gal.
Fuel Requirement 93-octane unleaded premium gasoline
recommended
Tires Goodyear Eagle GS F:P245/45 ZR17
R P275/40 ZR18
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc,
antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent unequal-length double
wishbone with transverse composite
leaf springs
Drivetrain front engine, rear-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 18 / 25 / 20
0 to 60 mph est 5.0 sec
OPTIONS AND CHARGES
50th Anniversary Edition Package - includes:
memory package, electrochromic mirrors,
magnetic selective ride control, power
telescoping and manual tilt steering column,
twilight sentinel, head-up display, special
50th Anniversary color and trim $ 5,000
Performance axle ratio $ 395
Destination charge $ 760